No second chances for Centurions (From Leigh Journal)

No second chances for Leigh Centurions

3:26pm Thursday 22nd September 2011 in Centurions By David Parkinson

LEIGH Centurions head into their game with Sheffield Eagles tonight, Thursday, knowing that a win will have them on their way to a second domestic final this season.

Defeat on the other hand will bring about an end to Ian Millward’s second spell in charge with the affable Australian set to move to Castleford.

“There’s not much degree for error in this game,” Millward said. “We need a massive amount of vocal support and we need people lifting us.

“It’s not one to be taken for granted and Sheffield are very good.

“We need an edge and that could well come from the noise on the terraces.”

Centurions are having to use up their second chance after Featherstone inflicted Leigh’s first loss away from the Sports Village all season.

Rovers made a superb start and led 12-0 after just ten minutes, holding out to end the game 35-20 ahead after a late flurry of tries from the visitors.

Millward admitted: “I acknowledge that Featherstone played very well.

“We probably were disappointed that we weren’t consistent in some of the areas we’ve been very strong on.

“It’s the first time an opposition set of forwards have dominated us; it’s the first time defensively we’ve been inconsistent on an edge and our kicking game and ball retention was very poor.

“There were a lot of reasons for why we were on the back foot.”

“We were able to avoid some opportunities. They nailed theirs and we didn’t. We just weren’t as strong or consistant as we normally are.

“With that in mind, and knowing what is at stake, that will put us in a good position for Thursday night and Sheffield.”

Sheffield have prospered in the 2011 play-offs, beating Widnes 36-20 before pummelling Halifax 50-12.

Neither result surprised Millward.

“For me they have been in the top three all year so it doesn’t surprise me that they are in this situation.”

He said: “Also they’ve got a good mixture of English players and imports. They are one of the few clubs that have three imports so I think they have done extremely well and we very much respect them.”

“I’m not surprised what they have done with the squad they have got. They deserve to be where they are.”

Form second row Tommy Goulden is set to miss this evening’s game thanks to a hamstring injury so Leigh will have to reshuffle with Stuart Littler set to move back into the pack.

In other news Ian Millward has been nominated for the Championship Coach of the Year award while Chris Hill and Jamie Ellis were both on the nominations list for Player of the Year along with Featherstone’s Liam Finn.

Ellis could have an interesting evening at the black tie event, he has also been named on the short list to take out Young Player of the Year while former Centurion Ian Mort is in line for the Championship One Player of the Season after scoring more than 300 points with Swinton this term.